People, Planet and Profits: Balancing Tourism with Sustainability

Inkaterra Machu Picchu. Inkaterra won the Tourism for Tomorrow Award this year.

BY MARK CHESNUT


I recently wrapped up covering the Americas Summit, a global tourism conference organized by the World Travel & Tourism Council that took place at the Grand Velas Resort on Mexico's Riviera Maya. This is one of my reports from the event. 


It is more than possible to combine sustainable practices with tourism growth — it’s actually crucial in order to ensure continued success in the long run, according to an expert travel industry panel presentation called “Succeeding with Sustainability.”

Is Less Regulation the Key to Airline Growth in Latin America?

Making connections: El Dorado International Airport in Bogota, Colombia. Photo: © Mark Chesnut

BY MARK CHESNUT


I recently wrapped up covering the Americas Summit, a major conference organized by the World Travel & Tourism Council that took place at the Grand Velas Resort on Mexico's Riviera Maya. This is one of my reports from the event. 


Connectivity is key to further growth in the travel and tourism segments, and “open skies” — the international policy concept that liberalizes rules and regulations — is an important tool for achieving this goal, according to delegates speaking during a session called “Opening Skies Means Opening Up for Business.”

Travel and Tourism Could Create 5 Million New Jobs: Mexico President Calderon

The Grand Velas Riviera Maya resort, near Playa del Carmen, Mexico, is the setting for the Americas Summit, hosted by the World Travel & Tourism Council.

BY MARK CHESNUT

I'm currently covering the Americas Summit, a major conference organized by the World Travel & Tourism Council. This is my first report from the event. 


Travel and Tourism could create an additional five million new jobs worldwide in just a few years — that was the message driven home in a presentation today by Mexican President Felipe Calderón Hinojosa and David Scowsill, president and CEO of the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC). 


The comments were made during The Presidential Perspective and T20 Update sessions at the Americas Summit, a WTTC event taking place this week at the luxurious Grand Velas Riviera Maya resort, near Playa del Carmen in Mexico's Riviera Maya region. 

HOTEL REVIEW: Holiday Inn Fortaleza, Brazil

BY RAMSEY QUBEIN



Arrival Experience: The beachfront Holiday Inn Fortaleza is the only major full-service U.S.-branded hotel in this Brazilian city, and as a result commands a great deal of respect from locals and visitors alike. Its location just across the road from Iracema beach gives business travelers something to look forward to after meetings, but it also propels this Brazil hotel to the top of the charts for leisure guests as well. A bright, tiled lobby features a conversation area to the left, and a friendly reception desk directly in front of the revolving door. Modern art is sprinkled throughout the space, but many guests immediately divert their attention to the crashing waves visible through the glass windows.

VIDEO: Maracana Stadium — Big Changes for the 2014 World Cup

Maracana Stadium in Rio de Janeiro is being upgraded for the 2014 World Cup. Photo: Mark Chesnut

PHOTOS, VIDEO & REPORT BY MARK CHESNUT



There’s no denying that soccer — futebol — is a national passion in Brazil. And the best place to tap into that excitement is Maracanã, the stadium in Rio de Janeiro. 


The 2014 World Cup will bring thousands of the world’s greatest soccer players — and their fans — to this giant stadium. To get ready for the big event, Maracaná Stadium is undergoing a massive upgrade. 


I got a glimpse of the changes during my visit to the on-site visitors’ center — and you'll see what's in store in this EXCLUSIVE VIDEO. 

Argentina Travel, by First Class Express Bus

Argentina travel by bus can be a pleasant experience, with companies like CATA Internacional and Flechabus.

BY MELISSA RUTTANAI


Some people dread buses, especially long bus rides where the bathroom looms in the back, the air conditioning is spotty and the guy next to you is already snoring before the bus has even shifted out of first gear. But in Argentina, long bus rides represent a particular level of luxury.


After one week of lounging in Mendoza wine country, my husband and I psyched ourselves up for a long stint in Buenos Aires, the capital. The ride from wine country is 14 hours, considered grueling to some. For us, our Cama Executive tickets meant we had second-floor, reclining seats on one of the smoothest bus rides we’ve had during our travels through the Andes Mountains.

HOTEL REVIEW & VIDEO: Hacienda Xcanatun in Merida, Yucatan

Hacienda Xcanatun: a luxurious hotel getaway just outside of Merida, Mexico.

VIDEO & REVIEW BY MARK CHESNUT


The Mexican state of Yucatan is known for its many historic haciendas, several of which have been converted to luxury hotels. During one particularly enjoyable visit, I stayed at Hacienda Xcanatun, which sits just four miles from downtown Mérida. This EXCLUSIVE VIDEO provides a glimpse of what the hotel offers. 


THE STYLE: Xcanatun is set in an 18th-century hacienda that has been recast as a luxury hotel, with all the service and amenities that you'd need for an exceptionally upscale stay. The conservative decor and style is a fitting complement to the beautiful architectural details of the original hacienda, with comfortable furnishings and lovely design elements throughout.  

VIDEO: Cartagena Beyond the Prostitutes, Puerto Vallarta for Families

The Hotel Charleston Cartegena is one of the many beautiful boutique hotels in Colombia's tourism hotspot.

PHOTOS & VIDEO BY MARK CHESNUT


Cartagena has made a lot of news lately — but not for the usual reasons. The scandal created by the U.S. Secret Service after they, ahem, interacted with prostitutes at a popular Cartagena hotel — the Hotel Caribe — drew attention to Colombia's most popular international tourism destination, but for the wrong reasons. 


In this new VIDEO — the first installment in LatinFlyer's new Latin America Travel Update — I address the reasons  why Cartagena should be on your travel itinerary (and no, prostitutes do not appear on the list of reasons). 


In addition, I answer a question from a LatinFlyer follower about whether Puerto Vallarta, Mexico is good for family vacations. I encourage anyone with a Latin America travel question — or tips and recommendations to share — to please contact me, so I can address your concerns and ideas in future Latin America Travel Updates. 


MORE TRAVEL NEWS & TIPS
• Happenin' Hoods in Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo (Meetings Focus International)
• Get more action! Subscribe to the LatinFlyer channel on Youtube.

HOTEL REVIEW: BoBo Hotel, Buenos Aires, Argentina

BY RAMSEY QUBEIN


THE STYLE: Upon entering the hip Buenos Aires neighborhood called Palermo, which is filled with trendy bars, boutiques and cafes, it's clear that BoBo Hotel & Restaurant (the name is an abbreviation of "Bourgeois Bohemian") belongs here. The entrance is through immense wrought iron doors that swing open to reveal a cozy sitting area with guide books and modern art pieces and the one-person reception where a smile and personal greeting is always a guarantee. The small room count and metal keys add a friendly, homespun touch to the environment.